Bed Bath and Beyond is closing permanently — and its closing sale starts today. Here's how to get the best deals right now

By Maddy Perkins

The houseware retailer, along with Buy Buy Baby, is shutting down. Here's how to take advantage of their final sales

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Longtime retail staples Bed Bath and Beyond and Buy Buy Baby are shutting their doors and will soon be in the Great Beyond. That said, the big box stores known for affordable housewares, home accessories, textiles and baby gear are going out with a bang: Starting April 26, the company says you can expect many (if not all) items to be on clearance sale at both Bed Bath and Beyond and Buy Buy Baby. However, liquidation sales of this magnitude can often be chaotic. We asked smart shopping experts for tips on how to make the most of these "everything must go savings."

If you're shopping online, get going now.

"If you aren't near a store (or don't want to shop in person) start looking for deals online now. Beware though that this could mean hit-or-miss offers," Ramhold says. "It's worth watching online, but be ready to jump on any deals you find, as items are going to sell out quickly due to the bankruptcy news." You can shop the Bed Bath and Beyond and Buy Buy Baby sales through these links.

If you can, check out your local store now -- especially if you know what you want to buy.

The timing of bankruptcy sales can often vary by location, and there's a chance many of the best deals will be in physical Bed Bath and Beyond locations to avoid expenses like shipping fees for the closing company, says Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com. It's worth checking out your local store to see what's on sale now, she says. If you want more details on the brass tax, "you can try to ask an associate, but they're probably getting the question a lot and it's not the most sensitive thing to ask someone who's essentially going to be losing their job when their store closes," Ramhold says.

Any items purchased prior to the 26th are "expected" to be eligible for exchange through May 24, but all closing sale items are final, according to the company's website. Since items will be final sale, it's probably best to stock up on essentials you know you like and need, according to smart shopping expert Trae Bodge of TrueTrae.com. "This is not a time to try something new. I would expect the discounts to be fairly deep right away, but they will likely increase as time goes on," Bodge says.

Bodge also has a tip to make your shopping experience even more streamlined: "If shoppers are looking for intel, I would suggest visiting the Bed Bath and Beyond forum on Slickdeals. The Slickdeals deal seeker community has already started communicating about the store closures and I expect the forum to become more active in the coming days," Bodge says.

If you don't need it, you don't need to buy it.

"Because these stores carry essential items for the home and for baby care, this is a good time for shoppers to stock up on their favorites at a discount," Bodge says. Ramhold adds that while there will be some good sale opportunities, "the important thing to remember is that just because a store is going out of business, it doesn't mean the discounts will be the best ones out there. Do some comparison shopping to make sure you're getting a good deal, at least, but also try to take note now of what prices look like on items you're interested in."

See also: 12 Mother's Day Gifts To Spoil Any Mom in Your Life

Comparison shop, work quickly if you must have it and more slowly if you're looking for the best deal.

Liquidation sales of this magnitude can be pretty chaotic -- and the prices may be lower but not the lowest. Comparison shop to see if you can get what you need at a lower price, Ramhold says. "Mostly it's important to not assume that just because Bed Bath and Beyond is having a liquidation sale, it doesn't mean the price you're seeing on any item is actually going to be the best one you can find, so be sure to check elsewhere before you make a purchase" she adds.

And Bodge notes that maybe some of the deepest savings may occur towards the end of the sale. "If you're more flexible, waiting could save you more money, but the selection will be thinner," Bodge says.

Bye bye coupons.

The infamous blue coupon is expected to be no more: "We anticipate that we will stop accepting coupons on April 26, 2023, when we will start our store closing sales, where customers will be able to shop for your favorite products at deep discounts," Bed Bath and Beyond on its website. This is another case for shopping at brick and mortar locations, as it looks as though this may vary. Gift cards are also "expected" to be eligible for use until May 8.

-Maddy Perkins

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04-26-23 1016ET

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